I’d hardly call McIntosh or Castagna, or even Pickett sublime by footHis Kicking was shocking at Times yesterday no way he plays seniors
Yes, but that's the problem. Dimma and the club have done brilliantly by stealing 3 premierships with a handful of A-grade champion players, surrounded by a bunch of battling role-players by creating and engineering chaos football. It caught the rest of the comp napping, unawares. So much so that it took them virtually 4 years to a) rate it as successful and not a fluke and b) find players and strategies to counter it, which include taking on many of both the attacking and defensive features that made it successful. Just look at when sides such as the Rutten/ Caracella Bummers get their forward handball going; even Colonwood did it to us yesterday! Look at the increased emphasis by virtually all sides on chasing, pressure, hard tackling and running hard off the ball/when the team is not in possession. The thing is, turnovers can kill you; smart and skillful ball-users make the difference. I hate Pendles, umpires fave, but he cut us up yesterday again, hardly wasted a disposal.I’d hardly call McIntosh or Castagna, or even Pickett sublime by foot
Yes, but that's the problem. Dimma and the club have done brilliantly by stealing 3 premierships with a handful of A-grade champion players, surrounded by a bunch of battling role-players by creating and engineering chaos football. It caught the rest of the comp napping, unawares. So much so that it took them virtually 4 years to a) rate it as successful and not a fluke and b) find players and strategies to counter it, which include taking on many of both the attacking and defensive features that made it successful. Just look at when sides such as the Rutten/ Caracella Bummers get their forward handball going; even Colonwood did it to us yesterday! Look at the increased emphasis by virtually all sides on chasing, pressure, hard tackling and running hard off the ball/when the team is not in possession. The thing is, turnovers can kill you; smart and skillful ball-users make the difference. I hate Pendles, umpires fave, but he cut us up yesterday again, hardly wasted a disposal.
We have been absolute proof of the old adage of how a champion team will (usually) beat a team of champions. Those days are probably over with SHocking's/AFL's new rules. Sydanee are a standout example of a side who have bridged the gap to the top sides by building a really tight defence (sign of all great AFL teams IMO including Tiges), now a threatening attack. But all levered by really sharp kicking skills; this is crucial in bridging the gap
That's where the game has moved to now, love it or hate(!) it.
So I really doubt we can alter our situation with another ball-butcher. Parker is tough and hard. skilled in CB situatiosn. He can mark it, he's a fast and agile mover, but if he just turns it over when out in space, it will just come back past him often.
PS - many on PRE and here seem to just assume he was our definite choice simply because we took him. I still think we may have aimed to take Sam Durham which those Richmond MKII Drugsters grabbed right before us (using plenty of intel gleaned via Rutten and Caracella contacts)
But Dermie said he so much untapped potential.His Kicking was shocking at Times yesterday no way he plays seniors
If his kicking is that bad then he will be right at home in our firstsHis Kicking was shocking at Times yesterday no way he plays seniors
If his kicking is that bad then he will be right at home in our firsts
Think that undersells us a bit. You don't steal 3 premierships in 4 years.Dimma and the club have done brilliantly by stealing 3 premierships with a handful of A-grade champion players, surrounded by a bunch of battling role-players by creating and engineering chaos football. It caught the rest of the comp napping, unawares.
Yer, possibly does but I'm really paying credit to what Dimma has achieved and how his role-players have contributed. We have probably only dominated the comp in 2018 ironically, topping the ladder and beating everyone in H&A until that fateful PF. I'm not sure we would argue we definitely have had the most talented list for all those years. The impact of injuries to key players at competing clubs has to be factored in - god knows we've had our share over 19/20/21.Think that undersells us a bit. You don't steal 3 premierships in 4 years.
That's speculation; not fact, right!?game 1 as a tiger in front of ZERO crowd. Lockdown 5 staring 11:59pm tonight :-(